Catheter type ultrasound probe

Abstract

A catheter type ultrasound probe having an elongated flexible catheter and a controller for a rotational driver for the ultrasound transducer on the catheter member. The device includes a flexible sheathing tube closed at the fore end, a rotatable support member located in a tip end portion of the sheathing tube, an ultrasound transducer mounted on the rotatable support member and a flexible transmission shaft including at least a transmission coil having a series of intimately contacting helices. The flexible transmission shaft extends through the sheathing tube and is connected at the fore end to the rotatable support member. A rotational shaft is coupled to the other end of the flexible transmission shaft and is rotationally driven from the rotational driver on the controller. A pair of fore and rear stoppers located in the fore and rear end portions of the catheter retain the flexible transmission shaft in a tensioned state between predetermined head and tail end positions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A catheter type ultrasound probe including an elongated flexible catheter member having an ultrasound transducer mounted on a tip end portion thereof and a controller having a rotational drive means for said ultrasound transducer, said catheter member comprising: a flexible sheathing tube closed with an acoustic end cap at the distal end thereof through an annular stopper ring;   a rotatable support member located within said acoustic end cap at the distal end of said sheathing tube;   an ultrasound transducer mounted on said rotatable support member;   a flexible transmission shaft constituted by at least a transmission coil consisting of a series of intimately contacting helices, said flexible transmission shaft being extended through said flexible sheathing tube and connected at the fore end thereof to said rotatable support member;   a rotational shaft coupled with the rear end of said flexible transmission shaft and rotationally driven from said rotational drive means on said controller; and   fore and rear stopper means located in fore and rear end portions of said catheter member to retain the flexible transmission shaft in tensioned state between predetermined head and tail end positions of said catheter member, said fore stopper means being constituted by an annular stopper surface formed on the inner periphery of said stopper ring and abutted against a proximal end face of said rotatable support member for sliding contact therewith.   
     
     
       2. A catheter type ultrasound probe as defined in claim 1, wherein said rear stopper member is constituted by a generally cylindrical shell member connected to the proximal end of said flexible sheathing tube and held in sliding contact with said rotational shaft. 
     
     
       3. A catheter type ultrasound probe as defined in claim 2, wherein said rotatable support member and said shell member are formed of an electrically insulating synthetic resin material. 
     
     
       4. A catheter type ultrasound probe as defined in claim 1, said rotational shaft is detachably connectible to said rotational drive source on said controller.